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I've wondered that. I suppose there's a reason somewhere. Off/back on at depth makes sense since you could have an equipment problem or some entanglement. On the surface--well, you're already on the surface so you have air. If you take it off you can still sit on it and float (unless a big hole in the BC). If you have equipment failure or entanglement on the surface you'd just let it sink or hold on to it if it floats. Then wait for help. If it sinks you would be buoyant with air in a drysuit and weights dropped, or in a thick wetsuit, weights dropped. Or, you tread water or swim 200 meters to shore (that's why they have those tests, no......).Clearly there are cases when you have to take it off, but putting it back on?
Sounds like a test of comfort in the water rather than a practical application.
But in all seriousness, you're probably right in that putting it back on at the surface is a test of comfort in the water--or at least a familiarity with equipment thing.